Fox News Poll: Mixed views on NSA surveillance program

Views are split over whether the National Security Agency surveillance program is more likely to help catch terrorists or hurt law-abiding Americans. In addition, about a third of voters believe the government is listening to their calls and reading their email, according to a just-released Fox News poll. [cont.] Dana […] Read more »

Most Back NSA Surveillance Efforts – But Also Seek Congressional Hearings

Most Americans in a new ABC News/Washington Post poll support telephone and internet surveillance by the National Security Administration, but two-thirds also favor congressional hearings on the subject – indicating broad interest in more information about these activities. [cont.] Gary Langer, ABC News Read more »

Public Split over Impact of NSA Leak, But Most Want Snowden Prosecuted

The public is divided over whether the leak of classified information about NSA phone and internet surveillance serves the public interest. But a majority says that former government contractor Edward Snowden should be criminally prosecuted. The new national survey, conducted June 12-16 by the Pew Research Center and USA TODAY […] Read more »

Al Gore: NSA’s secret surveillance program ‘not really the American way’

The National Security Agency’s blanket collection of US citizens’ phone records was “not really the American way”, Al Gore said on Friday, declaring that he believed the practice to be unlawful. … The former vice-president was also unmoved by some recent opinion polls suggesting public opinion was in favour of […] Read more »

Examining Americans’ Attitudes About the NSA Surveillance Program

How do we summarize what Americans think about the NSA surveillance programs? I would say that Americans don’t particularly like the programs (which is not surprising), but in some circumstances find them acceptable if that’s what it takes to help investigate and prevent acts of terrorism. [cont.] Frank Newport, Gallup Read more »